The Partners In Foster Care team were “playing their part” during the South Burnett Child Protection Week Awards dinner on Wednesday night
The Leadership Award was presented to Susan Jerome from South Burnett CTC’s Partners In Foster Care program

September 6, 2013

Local child protection workers have a big part to play in keeping South Burnett families safe, and their roles were recognised at the South Burnett Child Protection Week Awards held on Wednesday night in Kingaroy.

The theme for the 2013 National Child Protection Week  is “Play Your Part”,  which explains the theatrical masks that some of the workers sported at the dinner ceremony which was held at the Kingaroy RSL Club.

During the night awards were presented to:

  • Rookie of the Year – Sherrie Crawford, Uniting Care Community
  • Leadership Award – Susan Jerome, Partners In Foster Care, and
  • The Joy Kite Award for Exceptional Practice with Families – Kathleen Crane, Proston Community Health

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the award ceremony was held each year to recognise and reward local child protection champions for their hard work and commitment towards protecting children and young people.

“It’s also about celebrating the achievements in this sector over the past year and raising awareness of child protection throughout our wider community,”  she said.

“In particular, the awards acknowledge service providers or individuals who are going above and beyond their normal duties to achieve the best possible outcomes for our local children, families and young people.

“In 2005, the South Burnett human services sector formed a Child Protection Week Committee which takes responsibility for organising a range of community activities, including this annual awards dinner.

“I congratulate the committee for hosting another successful awards ceremony again this year and thank them for inviting me to attend.”

Child Safety Minister Tracy Davis said the State Government had provided more than $100,000 towards Child Protection Week to fund community-based events across Queensland.

“Child Protection Week promotes the belief that it is everyone’s responsibility to make their community child-friendly,” she said.

The Joy Kite Award For Exceptional Practice With Families award winner Kathleen Crane, from Proston Community Health, with the “Crane family”, from left, Janee, Gabe and Ruby 

Shenane Law and Alana Law-Palm, from Cherbourg 

Centacare South Burnett manager Louise Judge and Dellese Heit 
Kate and Sarah Franciosa-Jones, from Uniting Care Community, with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington
The South Burnett CTC “residential” team … from left, Renae Dobson, Shari Harrington, Tristan Miller, Sarah Herbohn, Rick Willett, Berni Horne, Shaun Bliesner and Kirsten Firman
Back row, Kristina Harchett, Leigh Lawrence, Vanessa Freeman;  at front, Tania Goodall, Tracey Howell and Jodi Fisher from the Department of Child Safety
Jess Scanlan, Sue Heit, Sonia Steele and Leonard Wilson, from Proston

More Photos From The SB Child Protection Week Awards:

From left, award winners Susan Jerome, Kathleen Crane and Sherrie Crawford